Interlocking container for conduction of flowable materials

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for containing and conducting flowable materials, including liquids, pourable solids, or gases, the apparatus having mateable dovetails on four sides, and mateable screw engagements at the top and bottom. The screw engagements are operative to maintain a sealed connection between successive containers, and contain barriers which are adapted to be removed, whereby the material may flow from one interconnected container to the next, in the manner of piping. A lateral connection may additionally be formed by mating portions at the leading and trailing ends of vertically connected containers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container for flowable materials,mateably engageable laterally and vertically with like containers,Connections are provided whereby successive containers may be joined ina sealed manner to conduct flowable materials from one container to thenext.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of landfilling solid consumable waste, and plasticcontainers in particular, are well known. A common alternative is torecycle containers, by collecting, sorting and reprocessing thematerial, as by grinding, melting, and molding. There are numerousproblems with recycling plastics, however. These include the need tocarefully sort different types of plastic, the cost of transporting thematerial to a reprocessing site, the high energy required for meltingand reprocessing the material, and the difficulties associated withseparating biodegradeable plastics, or plastics containing dyes oradditives.

These problems are avoided when a container is reused. A challengeremains, however, to find sufficient demand for containers in theirexisting form, so that large numbers of them may be reused. Variousapproaches have been proposed, including forming toy building blocks inU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,175,498 to Garpow et al, and D349046 to Brown, barrierwalls in U.S. Patent Publication 2006-0261063 A1 to Grosso, displays andFurniture in U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,295 to Stoner, and sheds in U.S. Pat.No. 4,624,383 to Moore.

In Garpow and Brown, the utility of the containers are limited in thatthe containers may be joined by mating portions, but are easilyseparated. In Grosso and Moore, the lateral sides of the containercontain portions which mate and interlock, thus enabling a wider varietyof structures to be formed. In Grosso, however, there is no integralinterlocking vertical connection. In Stoner, cans are threaded togethervertically, but are not formed with lateral interconnections. In U.S.Pat. No. 6,276,549 to Fasci et al, vertical and lateral connections aremade by snap fastening, but are thus relatively easily pulled apart, ascompared to the interlocking connections of Grosso, Moore, or Stoner. InMoore, a vertical threaded connection is disclosed, as well as lateralinterconnections on two sides of a container.

While the containers disclosed in the cited references present somepotential for reuse, there remains considerable demand for a moreversatile, and thus more sought after container, as evidenced by therelatively small percentage of containers that are reused today. It isaccordingly an object of the invention to provide a container with highvertical and lateral connection strength, and which affords additionaluses, whereby a much greater incidence of reuse is realized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a container is provided for containingflowable materials, such as liquids, pourable solids, and gases. It is agoal of the invention to provide a container which is favored byconsumers, whereby consumable producers are motivated to switch fromnon-reusable containers to containers in accordance with the invention,whereby the environmental benefits of reuse may be realized.

Accordingly, the container may be of any useable size, but embodimentssized in the range of popular consumer containers are advantageous. Thecontainer may be formed from a wide variety of materials, includingpaper, wood, pressed pulp, plastic, metal, or plasticised or plasticcoated material. Plastic is a preferred material for drink containers,and thus the container of the present invention is advantageously madewith plastic, both for its acceptability from a consumer standpoint, andfor its physical properties with respect to manufacturing.

The body of the container may have any of a variety of shapes with aninternal volume. Advantageous shapes include those most commonly foundfor containers of consumer products, including elongated cylindrical orrectangular configurations. The latter has the additional advantage ofimparting addition strength to an assemblage of containers.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, at least two lateralmating and interlocking portions extend along the side of a container.Interlocking designs include dovetails, or any other shaped profilewhich engages in a like manner. Specifically, in accordance with theinvention, an elongated engaging portion of one container slideablyengages an elongated engaging portion of another container along thevertical axis of the container. Containers thus joined cannot beseparated by applying a force perpendicular to the vertical axis withoutdeformation or damage to the engaging portions. To facilitate repetitiveinterlocking on all four sides with a single container design, it isadvantageous to have opposing sides that are either both male engaging,or both female engaging.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a spout is formedat a leading end of the container, terminating with a threaded engagingring. A threaded cap may be applied to the engaging ring to seal thecontainer. An inversion, or aperture is formed at the trailing end ofthe container, extending into the interior of the container, sizedsufficiently large to rotatably receive a spout from the leading end ofa second mating container. A threaded receiving ring is disposed at theterminal end of the inwardly extending aperture, operative to threadablyengage the engaging ring at the leading end of the second container. Inthis manner, like containers may be attached end to end, or vertically,one to the other, in a secure manner. The shape of the spout may be anyof a variety of shapes, including conical, semispherical, and tubular,or the spout may be eliminated, whereby the engaging ring is disposedproximate the leading end of the container, and the receiving ring isdisposed proximate the trailing end of the container.

Structures are formed by connecting successive containers together,vertically and or laterally, in order to achieve the desiredconfiguration. Additional strength and thickness may be generated bycombining multiple lateral layers.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an additional oralternative connection is formed on the lateral leading and terminatingportions of the container. A portion of a coupling is formed partlywithin the trailing end of the first container, and a portion is formedpartly within the leading end of a second container. When containers arepositioned end to end, a structure results that is sized and shaped toreceive a cap. When a cap is positioned over the two portions,successive containers are secured to each other, vertically, and arealso prevented from rotating with respect to each other.

Further in accordance with the invention, an end wall may be provided atthe terminal end of the inwardly extending aperture at the trailing endof the container. The wall is operative to retain flowable materialswithin the container. The wall may be provided with a weakened portion,whereby the wall may be easily pierced, split, pushed aside or removed,as by pushing with a finger, rod, or other object. In so doing,containers connected vertically as described above may be coupled to asupply of flowable material, using threaded connectors or adapters, andthe connected containers thus used in the manner of piping to convey theflowable materials from a source to a destination. Further, end wallportions of the lateral couplings described above may also be providedwith weakened portions, whereby the flowable material may be tapped atvarious points along the pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts the container of FIG. 1, viewed from the trailing end;

FIG. 2 a depicts an alternative interlocking shape for the container ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 3 depicts a leading end of a container in accordance with theinvention, further illustrating detent engagements;

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a container inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates successively vertically coupled containers inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates laterally connected containers in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 7 depicts lateral coupling portions in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 8 depicts the coupling portions of FIG. 6, with a threadablyengaged cap;

FIG. 9 depicts the coupling portions of FIG. 6, with weakened end wallportions;

FIG. 10 depicts a cross-section of the container of FIG. 4, taken alongline 9-9;

FIG. 11 depicts alternative scaling methods in accordance with theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures in which like reference numerals refer tolike elements, an exemplary container 10 in accordance with theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Container 10 has an inner chamber 12operative to contain, and as described further below, transport flowablematerials, such as liquids, pourable solids, and gases. It is a goal ofthe invention to provide a container which is favored by consumers,whereby consumable producers are motivated to switch from non-reusablecontainers to containers in accordance with the invention, whereby theenvironmental benefits of reuse may be realized.

Accordingly, the container may be of any useable size, but embodimentssized in the range of popular consumer containers would be advantageous.T he container may be formed from a wide variety of materials, includingpaper, wood, pressed pulp, plastic, metal, or plasticised or plasticcoated material. Plastic is a preferred material for drink containers,and thus the container of the present invention is advantageously madewith plastic, both for its acceptability from a consumer standpoint, andfor its physical properties with respect to manufacturing.

The body of the container may have any of a variety of shapes with aninternal volume. Advantageous shapes include those most commonly foundfor containers of consumer products, including elongated cylindrical orrectangular configurations. The latter has the additional advantage ofimparting addition strength to an assemblage of containers. A containerin accordance with the invention may be advantageously formed in atriangular shape, as well as in shapes having more than four sides.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and with furtherreference to FIGS. 1-3, at least two lateral mating and interlockingportions 14,16 extend along the side of a container. Interlockingdesigns include dovetails 18, or any other shaped profile which engagesin a like manner, such as shapes 20,22 of FIG. 2 a. Specifically, inaccordance with the invention, an elongated engaging portion of onecontainer slideably engages an elongated engaging portion of anothercontainer along the vertical axis of the container.

For male engaging portions, a connecting member extends outwardly fromthe side of the container, and conversely, for female engaging portions,a connecting member extends into the interior of the container. In eachcase, the extension has a narrow region close to the container side, anda wider portion further away from the container side.

Containers thus joined cannot be separated by applying a forceperpendicular to the vertical axis without deformation or damage to theengaging portions. To facilitate repetitive interlocking on all foursides with a single container design, it is advantageous to have twosides that are male engaging, such as portions 14,14 a, and two sidesthat are female engaging, such as portions 16,16 a. In the figures,opposite sides of the container have like engaging portions, It isadditionally possible to enable continuous lateral connections where twoadjacent sides have male engaging portions, and the remaining twoadjacent sides have female engaging portions. Where more limited lateralconnections are acceptable, an engaging portion may be formed on oneside of the container, however a male style and a female style containerwould be required. For containers with two engaging portions, it isadvantageous to have one engaging portion be male, and the other female,in order that a single container style will suffice for lateralconnections.

In the figures, interlocking portions 14,16 extend from a leading end100 of container 10 to trailing end 102. It should be understood,however, that interlocking portions 14,16 may extend transversely, andthus perpendicular to an axis passing through the leading and trailingends of the container, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a spout 24 isformed at leading end 100, terminating with a threaded engaging ring 26.A threaded cap 28 may be applied to the engaging ring to seal thecontainer. An aperture 30 is formed at trailing end 102, extending as aninwardly projecting inversion into the interior of the container, sizedsufficiently large to rotatably receive a spout from the leading end ofa second mating container. A threaded receiving ring 32 is disposed atthe terminal end of the inwardly extending aperture, operative tothreadably engage the engaging ring 26 at the leading end of a secondcontainer. It should be understood, however, that threaded engagementmay be provided at any point along spout 24, with correspondinglypositioned threads within aperture 30.

In this manner, like containers may be attached end to end, orvertically, one to the other, in a secure manner, as shown in FIG. 5.The shape of the spout may be any of a variety of shapes, includingconical, semispherical, and tubular, or the spout may be eliminated, asshown by container 34 of FIG. 4, whereby the engaging ring 26 isdisposed proximate leading end 100, and the receiving ring 32 isdisposed proximate trailing end 102.

With reference to FIG. 5, structures are formed by connecting successivecontainers together, vertically and or laterally, in order to achievethe desired configuration. Three containers 10,10 a,10 b are shown,vertically connected, wherein container 10 a is threaded into container10 via engaging ring 26 and receiving ring 32. Similarly, container 10 bis threaded into container 10 a. When a container in accordance with theinvention is taller than it is wide, the vertical, or end to endconnection, may also be termed longitudinal.

Additional strength and thickness may be generated by combining multiplelateral layers, as shown in FIG. 6. Containers are connected laterallyas described above. Examples include containers 10 c, 10 d, and 10 e. Ifa vertical connection is desired, such connections are made first, whilecontainers are not laterally interconnected and are thus free to rotate,after which lateral connections may be made. It is therefore importantthat interlocking portions 14,16 align in vertically connectedcontainers.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, in accordance with another aspect ofthe invention, a portion of a lateral coupling 38 is formed on thelateral leading end 104 and lateral terminating end 106 of container 10,as projections of substantially a half of a cylinder. A whole lateralcoupling 38 is formed by the adjacent positioning of portion 40, formedin the trailing end of a first container, and portion 42, formed in theleading end of a second container. When containers are positionedvertically, or end to end, a cylindrical structure is formed fromportions 40,42 that is sized and shaped to receive a joining member 44.In one embodiment, the resultant shape is sized to receive cap 28,provided for attachment to engaging ring 26. When cap 28 is positionedover the two portions, successive containers are thus secured to eachother, vertically and are also prevented from rotating about a verticalaxis, with respect to each other. As can be seen in FIG. 8, cap 28 maybe provided with a slot 46, or other tool engagement recess orprojection, to facilitate engagement of cap 28 with a tool, such as ascrew driver or wrench (not shown). Alternatively, as can be seen inFIG. 10, recesses or indentations 64,66 may be provided adjacent to oneor both of portions 40,42, whereby fingers may more easily grasp joiningmember 44, in order to facilitate manipulation of joining member 44, aswhen attaching or removing joining member 44.

Referring again to FIG. 9, a lateral end area of portions 40,42 may beprovided with weakened areas 48,50, whereby the wall may be more easilypierced, split, pushed aside or removed, as by pushing with a finger,rod, or other object. In one embodiment, scoring 52,54 is provided,which does not completely penetrate the material of portion 40, wherebythe container 10 may maintain gas or liquid sealing ability until area48 or 50 is removed.

With reference to FIG. 10, aperture 30 terminates in an end wall 56which maintains the gas or liquid sealing ability of container 10 at thetrailing end of the container. As described with respect to areas 48,50,end wall 56 may be similarly weakened, as by scoring 58, and thus beeasily removed in order to enable the passage of liquid or gas fromcontainer to container when successive containers 10 are connectedvertically, thus forming a pipe or conduit. Means of forming an aperturein end wall 56 is discussed further, below, with respect to FIGS. 11a-11 c.

The threaded connection between engaging ring 26 and receiving ring 32advantageously forms a gas or liquid tight seal between successivecontainers. In one embodiment, the seal is formed along the periphery ofend wall 56, although a seal may alternatively be formed below end wall56, closer to or at trailing end 102.

Accordingly, containers connected vertically as described above may becoupled to a supply of flowable material, using threaded connectors oradapters, and the connected containers thus used in the manner of pipingto convey the flowable materials from a source to a destination. Lateralcouplings, as described above, may have weakened areas 48,50 removed,whereby the flowable material may be tapped at various points along thepipe.

An alternative means of forming lateral coupling 38 is illustrated inFIG. 10, in which portion 60 corresponds to portion 40, however portion60 is provided with deformable ribs 62. A portion corresponding toportion 42 (not shown) is similarly formed with ribs. In thisembodiment, a joining member, such as a cap having a smooth or ribbedinternal bore (not shown), may be pushed onto the coupling to securesuccessive containers. Indentations 64,66 facilitate removing the capusing fingers or a tool. In accordance with the invention, any or allsides of container 10 may be provided with one or more lateral couplingsas described.

With further reference to FIG. 6, it should be understood thatvertically connected containers configured for flowable materials may beadditionally connected laterally, thereby increasing both the total flowvolume capacity and strength of a piping structure thus formed.

With reference to FIGS. 11 a-11 c, several embodiments in accordancewith the invention are illustrated for forming an aperture for thepassage of flowable material from a first container to a secondcontainer. For clarity, each of FIGS. 11 a-11 c illustrates only the endwall 56 of aperture 30. In FIG. 11 a, a thickened rib 70 is formed nearthe periphery of end wall 56. Cut marks 72 indicate suggested locationsfor making cuts with a knife or tool. Rib 70 thus serves to reduce thelikelihood that the tool will pass beyond the area to be cut, where itmight otherwise structurally weaken the container, or damage a sealingarea 82 beyond rib 70. Cut marks 72 may be printed on end wall 56, ormay be formed from visible scoring. The scoring may be formed as acontinuous groove, or as shown, as a dotted pattern of partialperforations.

In FIG. 11 b, wall 56 is provided with a pull-off seal 74. Tab 76 isgrasped by fingers or a tool, and is pulled in order to remove seal 74.Levering tab 76 outwards, away from a resting plane essentially parallelwith wall 56, may serve to form an initial separation of seal 74 andwall 56. As tab 76 is pulled in a direction away from the trailing endof container 10, seal 74 continues to separate from wall 56, until anaperture sufficiently wide has been formed. Seal 74 may be adapted to becompletely separate from wall 56. Alternatively, seal 74 may beadvantageously formed to not separate entirely from wall 56, thusreducing the incidence of litter. Seal 74 may be connected to container10 along a weakened path 76, formed between wall 56 and seal 74, whereinweakened path 76 does not extend completely around the periphery of seal74. Seal 74 may alternatively be attached to container 10 with adhesiveor heat bonding, including ultrasonic bonding.

With reference to FIG. 11 c, a plug 78 penetrates an aperture in endwall 56. Dotted seal line 80 indicates a sealing region between wall 56and plug 78. In this manner, container 10 is formed with a suitableaperture, and plug 78 is installed during the manufacturing or fillingprocess, where it may be stamped into engagement with container 10, orbe press fit, or fasted by adhesive or heat bonding. As in FIG. 11 b, apull tab may be provided, attached to plug 78, to facilitate removal.

Connected as described above, containers in accordance with the presentinvention may be used to form a variety of structures, including asexamples landscape or irrigation piping, solar heating structures, fluidor gas reservoirs, and potable or sanitation water conduits. Containersmay be cut transversely to form a cup or receptacle, whose surface areamay be increased through lateral connections. A combination of lateraland vertical connections, in combination with transverse cuts asdescribed, can be used to collect liquids or gases and conduct them to acollection point, for example to collect rainwater, or to concentrategas production from decomposing farm waste. It should be emphasized thatthe present invention is not limited to the uses described above, butmay be adapted to a variety of uses not described herein.

Due to the very low cost of containers in accordance with theinvention., it is possible to construct structures which would otherwisebe unfeasible in many communities, and thus may significantly improve astandard of living therein, thereby reducing human suffering. Containersmay be collected in communities where they were initially used tocontain a consumer product, and thereafter transported in bulk tocommunities where they may be used as described herein.

All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference intheir entirety. In addition, unless mention was made above to thecontrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings arenot to scale. There are many different features to the present inventionand it is contemplated that these features may be used together orseparately. Thus, the invention should not be limited to any particularcombination of features or to a particular application of the invention.Further, it should be understood that variations and modificationswithin the spirit and scope of the invention might occur to thoseskilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, allexpedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art fromthe disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit ofthe present invention are to be included as further embodiments of thepresent invention.

1. A container adapted to interlock vertically and laterally with likecontainers, the container comprising: a first side including an outersurface, and a first connecting member extending outwardly from saidouter surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said outer surfacerelative to a wide portion distal to said outer surface; a second sideincluding an outer surface, and a second connecting member extendinginwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximatesaid outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outersurface, adapted to slideably engage a first connecting member of a likecontainer to create a lateral connection; a leading end comprising athreadably sealable opening; a trailing end adapted to threadably andsealably engage a leading end of a like container to create a verticalconnection; means for joining said first and second sides, and saidleading and trailing ends, whereby an interior volume is formed, adaptedto contain a flowable material; and an end wall in said trailing endadapted to be openable; wherein a conduit may be formed by opening anend wall in a container, and creating a vertical connection with a likecontainer.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein a first connectingmember of a container and a second connecting member or a like containerform a sliding dovetail joint.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein thecontainer includes four sides, wherein two sides are formed as saidfirst side, and the remaining two sides are formed as said second side,4. The container of claim 1, wherein said first and second connectingmembers extend from said leading end to said trailing end.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein said container is formed from a materialselected from the group consisting of paper, wood, pressed pulp,plastic, metal, material containing plastic, plastic coated material. 6.The container of claim 1, further including a sealing surface adjacentto said end wall, operative to form a liquid and gas tight seal when afirst container is threaded into a like container.
 7. The container ofclaim 17 further including: a spout disposed about said leading end; anda threaded ring disposed about said spout.
 8. The container of claim 7,wherein said trailing end further comprises an inversion projecting intothe interior of the container and sized to permit passage and rotationof a spout of a like container.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein atleast two conduits formed from at least two vertically connected likecontainers arc connected laterally.
 10. The container of claim 1,wherein said end wall is adapted to be openable using means selectedfrom the group consisting of, scoring, partial perforation, adheredpanel, plug.
 11. The container of claim 10, wherein said means to forman opening include a pull tab.
 12. The container of claim 1, wherein aseries of containers are connected to form an apparatus selected fromthe group consisting of: landscape piping, irrigation piping, solarheating structure, fluid reservoir, gas reservoir, potable waterconduit, sanitation water conduit.
 13. A container adapted to interlockvertically and laterally with like containers, the container comprising:a first side including an outer surface, and a first connecting memberextending outwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow portionproximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to saidouter surface; a second side including an outer surface, and a secondconnecting member extending inwardly from said outer surface, and havinga narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portiondistal to said outer surface, adapted to slideably engage a firstconnecting member of a like container to create a lateral connection; aleading end comprising a threadably sealable opening; a trailing endadapted to threadably and sealably engage a leading end of a likecontainer to create a vertical connection; means for joining said firstand second sides, and said leading and trailing ends, whereby aninterior volume is formed, adapted to contain a flowable material; anend wall in said trailing end adapted to be openable; a first couplingportion formed in said trailing end; and a second coupling portionformed in said leading end; wherein a conduit is formed by opening anend wall in a first container, and threadably engaging a secondcontainer to create a vertical connection; and wherein when containersare connected vertically, a whole coupling is formed by the adjacentpositioning of said first coupling portion and said second couplingportion.
 14. The container of claim 13, wherein said first and secondcoupling portions are each formed as a projection having the shape ofsubstantially half of a cylinder; and wherein when containers areconnected vertically, a cylindrically shaped projection is formed byadjacent first and second coupling portions.
 15. The container of claim14, wherein said first and second coupling portions are joinable by acap, fitted over the cylindrically shaped projection.
 16. The containerof claim 15, wherein said first coupling portion and said secondcoupling portion are each provided with mating threads; whereby the capis threadably connectable to either said cylindrically shaped projectionor said leading end.
 17. The container of claim 15, further including: afirst indented area adjacent to said first coupling; a second indentedarea adjacent to said second coupling; wherein a finger may be insertedinto each of said first and second indented areas to facilitateattaching or removing the cap.
 18. The container of claim 13, furtherincluding: a first end wall in said first coupling portion; a second endwall in said second coupling portion; wherein at least one of said firstand second end walls is adapted to be openable.
 19. A drink containeradapted to interlock vertically and laterally with like containers, thecontainer comprising: first and second sides, each including an outersurface, and a first connecting member extending outwardly from saidouter surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said outer surfacerelative to a wide portion distal to said outer surface; third andfourth sides, each including an outer surface, and a second connectingmember extending inwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrowportion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion distalto said outer surface, adapted to slideably engage a first connectingmember of a like container to create a lateral connection; a leading endhaving a spout, a threaded ring, and an opening; a trailing end havingan inversion extending from said trailing end into the interior of thecontainer, sized and shaped to rotatably receive a spout and leading endthreaded ring of a like container, a trailing end threaded ring,disposed at the interior end of said inversion, operative to threadablyand sealably engage a leading end threaded ring of a like container, tocreate a vertical connection, and an end wall at the interior end ofsaid inversion adapted to be openable; a first coupling portion formedin said trailing end and an adjacent side having the shape ofsubstantially half of a cylinder; a second coupling portion formed insaid leading end and an adjacent side having the shape of substantiallyhalf of a cylinder; wherein when containers are connected vertically, awhole coupling having the shape of substantially a whole cylinder isformed by the adjacent positioning of said first coupling portion andsaid second coupling portion; and wherein a conduit may be formed byopening an end wall in a container, and creating a vertical connectionwith a like container.
 20. The container of claim 18 wherein said firstcoupling portion and said second coupling portion are each provided withthread portions; whereby a cap threadably connectable to said leadingend threaded ring is threadably connectable to said cylindrically shapedprojection, when like containers are threaded together.